Controlled temperature compartment apparatus

ABSTRACT

A temperature controlled compartment apparatus in the form of a kitchen drawer mounted in an interior compartment that is cooled by one or more thermoelectric heat pump modules in the rear portion of a housing surrounding the drawer. A fan circulates air from the drawer past each thermoelectric heat pump module for cooling the air for the drawer and another fan or fans circulates external air past each thermoelectric heat pump module for removing heat from each module by that external air.

[0001] This is a Continuation-In-Part of co-pending application Ser. No.09/659,433, filed on Sep. 8, 2000, which is incorporated herein by thisreference.

[0002] This invention relates to an apparatus having a temperaturecontrolled compartment within the apparatus and, in particular, isdirected to a kitchen drawer apparatus that may be heated or cooled forwarming or cooling, respectively, plates, containers, food products, andthe like or holding the same at a desired temperature.

[0003] Many residential kitchens are provided with warming ovens,usually in the form of a drawer, that is heated to a moderatetemperature by a simple electric heating element controlled by athermostat but cooling drawers are far less common and more complicatedin requiring a normal refrigeration system with a compressor, condenserand evaporator. While the present invention is applicable to a heatingdrawer or a cooling drawer or selectable as either, it's principalutility is as a cooling drawer and therefore will be described in thatmanner.

[0004] Often it is desirable to chill plates, such as for serving salador a cold soup, or to maintain a food product cold, such as desserts,leaf salads, beverages or the like. While a conventional residentialrefrigerator may be used for such a chilling or cooling function, theremay be inadequate space or shelving in a residential refrigerator toaccommodate plates, bowls, and chilled food products that may beprepared for subsequent service. Further, while an extra smallrefrigerator may be provided in a residential kitchen for these chillingand cooling functions, conventional refrigerators employ a vaporcompression/evaporation cycle requiring a compressor, a condenser and anevaporator which are slow in reducing the interior temperature and,therefore, are normally left on at all times, which is wasteful ofenergy. Moreover, an extra refrigerator that is maintained at a coldtemperature usually attracts the storage of items thereby making itunavailable for special cooling uses. Further, heretofore conventionalresidential refrigerators have not been capable of selectively coolingor heating the interior of the refrigerator.

[0005] Therefore, it is a principle object of the present invention toprovide a temperature-controlled compartment apparatus that may beoperated to heat or cool an interior compartment. Specifically, it is amore detailed object of this invention to provide such a coolingapparatus wherein a thermoelectric heat pump is provided for operationto draw heat from the interior compartment for creating a coolingcompartment. Still another object of the present invention is to providesuch an apparatus in the form of a highly insulated cooling compartmentfor receiving a kitchen drawer through which cold air is circulated froma thermoelectric heat pump and then back to the thermoelectric heat pumpfor cooling the air.

[0006] Other and more detailed objects and advantages of the presentinvention will appear to those skilled in the art from the followingdescription of a preferred embodiment in connection with the drawings,wherein:

[0007]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the temperature controlledcompartment apparatus of the present invention in the form of a kitchendrawer for mounting in a cabinet or wall;

[0008]FIG. 2 is a sectional plan view of the temperature controlledcompartment apparatus of FIG. 1 taken on the line 2-2 in FIG. 3 andillustrating the air circulation paths of the kitchen drawer apparatus;

[0009]FIG. 3 is a side sectional elevation view of the temperaturecontrolled compartment apparatus of FIG. 1 taken substantially on theline 3-3 of FIG. 2;

[0010]FIG. 4 is a front sectional elevation view taken substantially onthe line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

[0011]FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the temperature controlledcompartment apparatus;

[0012]FIG. 6 is a rear sectional elevation view taken substantially onthe line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

[0013]FIG. 7 is a rear sectional elevation view taken substantially onthe line 7-7 of FIG. 3

[0014]FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional elevation of one of thethermoelectric heat pump modules used in the apparatus as shown in thecircle 8 in the FIG. 2;

[0015]FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional elevation of one of the condensatedrains used in the apparatus as shown at the circle 9 in the FIG. 4;

[0016]FIG. 10 is a rear elevation view of the cooling drawer removedfrom the apparatus;

[0017]FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the air intakepassage used in the apparatus as shown at the circle 11 in the FIG. 3;

[0018]FIG. 12 is a view of the temperature controls for the temperaturecontrolled compartment apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0019]FIG. 13 is a rear isometric view of the rear of a modified form ofthe temperature controlled compartment apparatus;

[0020]FIG. 14 is a side sectional elevation view taken substantially onthe line 14-14 of FIG. 13;

[0021]FIG. 15 is an enlarged sectional elevation of a modified form ofthe exhaust fans and air passages used in the apparatus as shown at thecircle in the FIG. 14;

[0022]FIG. 16 is a side sectional elevation view similar to FIG. 14 andillustrating another modified form of the exhaust fans and air passagesused in of the temperature controlled compartment apparatus; and

[0023]FIG. 17 is a side sectional elevation view of still anothermodified form of the temperature controlled compartment apparatus.

[0024] The preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS.1-12 is illustrated as a temperature controlled compartment apparatus 10having a drawer 12 so that the apparatus may be conveniently mounted inan opening in a wall or in the front of a kitchen cabinet, similar tomounting of conventional warming ovens, but the apparatus may beconstructed in other configurations, such as merely having a front door,without departing from the present invention. The apparatus 10 includesa double-walled housing 14 with insulation 16 between the walls on allsides, top and bottom, where possible, for reducing undesirable heattransfer between the exterior of the housing and interior compartment 18formed within the housing 14. The drawer 12 is supported in the housing14 by rollers 20 in a conventional manner for ease in sliding the drawer12 in and out of the interior compartment 18, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.The drawer may have a slidable or hinged top (not shown) for minimizingthe loss of cold air from the drawer as the drawer is rolled in and outof the housing. The front 12 a of the drawer 12 also includes insulation16. Preferably, the insulation 16 in the housing and also in the front12 a of the drawer 12 is made of vacuum panels, such as made by DowChemical Company under their trademark “Instill”, which greatly reducesthe heat transfer between the exterior of the housing and the interiorcompartment 18. Presently, such vacuum panels are normally availableonly in flat regularly shaped panels which are well suited for thefront, top, bottom and side walls but not the rear wall which is of anirregular shape, as discussed below. The vacuum panels provide greaterinsulation while allowing for a much thinner wall for the housing tothereby increase the volume of the interior compartment 18 and drawer 12for the same exterior size of the apparatus 10.

[0025] A heat exchange assemblage, generally designated 22, is providedas the rear portion of the apparatus 10 and housing 14 for creating theheat exchange between the interior compartment 18 and the atmospherearound the apparatus 10. In this preferred embodiment, the heat exchangeassemblage 22 is provided with two thermoelectric heat pump modules 24 aand 24 b (hereinafter simply “thermoelectric module”) although a singlethermoelectric module or more than two thermoelectric modules may beused without departing from the invention. The thermoelectric modules 24a and 24 b are located in the rear wall between the center of thehousing 14 and the left and right, respectively, side walls of thehousing 14 and approximately in the center in the top to bottomdirection.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 8, each thermoelectric module 24 is providedwith a pair of heat sinks 26 and 28 in horizontally spaced relationshipwith the rear heat sink 26 having a multiplicity of vertically extendingfins 26 a and the front heat sink 28 having a multiplicity of generallyhorizontally extending fins 28 a. Fins 26 a all extend vertically fromtop to bottom, as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 7, and for the full height ofthe thermoelectric module 24. Further, the fins 28 a all extend in thelateral direction from right to left, as viewed in FIGS. 2, 4, and 8,and for the full width of the thermoelectric module 24. As installed inthe heat exchange assemblage 22, the outer (rearward) edges of thevertically extending fins 26 a are adjacent to a cluster of air intakefans 30, four on each side being shown in FIG. 6, for quiet buteffective air circulation passed the heat sinks 26. The horizontallyextending fins 28 a are adjacent to the rear panel 19 of the interiorcompartment 18. Each thermoelectric module 24 includes a conventionalthermocouple heat pump device 34 sandwiched between the heat sinks 26and 28 with a heat transfer block 36 on one or both sides. Insulation 38also is sandwiched between the heat sinks 26 and 28 at all locationsother than the location of the thermocouple heat pump device 34. Theheat sinks 26 and 28 are held together by screws 40 surrounded bythermal washers 42 for minimizing the heat transfer between heat sinks26 and 28, except through the thermocouple heat pump device 34 and heattransfer block 36.

[0027] Referring again more particularly to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, theapparatus 10 will be described in connection with its operation. Amotorized impeller fan 50 is provided in a cavity 51 adjacent a circularopening 52 in panel 19 in the heat exchange assemblage 22 atapproximately the center (left to right) for drawing air from theinterior compartment 18 and drawer 12 through openings 61 in the backwall 12 b of drawer 12. A pair of ducts 54 conduct the air from the fan50 laterally in both directions, as shown by the arrows 56, between andalong the fins 28 a of the thermoelectric modules 24 a and 24 b whereheat is absorbed from the circulating air by the fins. The cooled air isdischarged from between the fins into laterally spaced plenums 58,through openings 59 in the rear panel 19, and then through a pluralityof openings or louvers 60 in the back wall 12 b of drawer 12 back intothe interior compartment 18 and drawer 12. The cooled air is alsodischarged from between the fins into air passages 70, which are betweenthe side walls 12 c, 12 d of drawer 12 and the side walls forming theinterior compartment 18, and then through a plurality of openings orlouvers 72, located at the front of the side walls 12 c and 12 d, asindicated by arrows 74. Thus, with the thermoelectric modules 24 a, 24 band fan 50 energized, the air within interior compartment 18 iscontinually circulated and cooled for cooling the contents throughoutthe drawer 12. The heat exchange assemblage 22 preferably includes athick, molded wall 75 of insulating material, such as polystyrene foam,with openings for the thermoelectric modules 24 a and 24 b and formingthe cavity 51 and ducts 54 and 58 whereby maximum insulation is providedat the back wall of the interior compartment 18.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 4, generally the horizontally extending fins 28a are preferably positioned at a slight angle to horizontal. Preferably,the angle is approximately 5°. By having the fins 28 a inclined at aslight angle gravity allows the condensation, which accumulates duringthe cooling process to run along the fins to a drain 110, as shown inFIG. 9. The condensate drain 110 is positioned in the back wall 75 ofthe housing such that the condensate that runs off of the fins 28 a willcollect in the drain 110. The drain 110 has a p-trap 112, such thatthere will always be water within the drain to prevent warmer air frompassing through the drain and into the cooler air above the drain.Preferably, the drain consists of a plastic pipe 114 and the p-trap 112,however, any other type of material may be used and other drainagesystems may be used to remove the condensate from the fins 28 a. Thecondensate drains from drain 110 into lower air passage 68 (describedbelow) through which warm exhaust airflows that evaporates and therebyremoves that condensate.

[0029] In order to improve the efficiency of and capacity for cooling bythe heat exchange assemblage 22, means are provided for circulatingexternal air past the vertically extending fins 26 a of thethermoelectric modules 24 a and 24 b. Specifically, motorized impellerfan sets 62 a and 62 b are provided in the heat exchange assemblage 22at laterally spaced locations directly adjacent to the verticallyextending fins 26 a. Each motorized impeller fan set 62 a and 62 bpreferably comprises four fans 30, as shown in FIG. 6, to circulate theexternal air past the fins 26 a. The fans 30 of sets 62 a and 62 b arepositioned adjacent the louvers 64, as shown in FIG. 5, in the rearpanel 31 for drawing in air from behind the apparatus 10. The externalair also is drawn in from the front of the apparatus 10 and drawer 12 atthe top of the drawer through vent openings or louvers 87 and into anair passage 80, which is between the top of the insulation 16 and thetop panel 82 of the apparatus 10, as shown by arrows 84. As the air fromthe front of the apparatus 10 is drawn to the back, it combines with theair drawn in from behind the apparatus and passes through the fans 30 ofsets 62 a and 62 b and is then discharged by fans 62 a and 62 b to andthrough the spaces between the vertically extending fins 26 a on thethermoelectric modules 24 a and 24 b, as shown by arrows 85, where thecirculating external air absorbs heat from the fins that has beenconducted or pumped through the thermoelectric modules by thethermocouple heat pump device 34. An air passage 68 is formed along thebottom of apparatus 10 between the insulation panel 16 and bottom wall67 which then conducts the heated air toward and through the bottom ofthe apparatus 10 to the front of the drawer 12, as shown by arrows 69.The heated air is then discharged to atmosphere through vent 89, locatedat the bottom of the drawer front 12 a at a sufficient distance from theinlet 87 at the top of drawer front 12 a and the fan sets at 62 a and 62b to avoid any direct recirculation of the heated air. Thus, with thefans 62 a, 62 b and the thermoelectric heat pump modules 24 a and 24 bactivated for cooling the internal compartment 18, the fins 26 a of theheat sink 26 are continually cooled by the circulating air and theefficiency of the heat exchange assemblage 22 is maximized. By drawerpassages 80 and 64 for drawing air into and exhaust air from theapparatus 10 for cooling the fins 26 a, the apparatus can be mounted inan enclosed cabinet that has little or no air circulation at the back ofapparatus 10. The external air is preferably circulated in this mannerfrom above to below the apparatus 10, even though heated air naturallyrises, in order to avoid discharging the heated air at the top where itwould impinge on a person opening the drawer 12 and tend to mix with thecold air in the drawer when its open. While an arrangement with two fansets 62 a and 62 b has been described for effectively at least doublingthe air circulated past the heat sink fins 26 a over the quantity of aircirculated past the heat sink fins 28 a to the interior compartment 18for improving the efficiency, it will be readily understood by thoseskilled in the art that a single set of fans or more than two sets offans, or a single larger fan or two larger fans may be used. Also, iteven may be possible to omit the external air fans 62 a, 62 b ifconvection air circulation of a continuous and reliable supply of coolair at the rear of the apparatus is adequate for the magnitude of heattransfer.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 11, the louver opening 87 at the top of thefront 12 a of the drawer allows the external air to pass from outsidethe drawer to air passage 80 and then to the fans. To prevent theexternal air from passing downward between the front 12 a of the drawer12 and the housing 14, and into the interior compartment 18, a seal 90is located on the housing 14, just below the bottom of the air passage80. The seal 90 preferably encircles the entire front opening of theinterior compartment 18 to engage the front 12 a of the drawer tominimize any loss of cold air when the drawer 12 is closed.

[0031] The rear wall 12 b of drawer 12, which is juxtaposed to panel 19of the interior compartment 18, is shown in FIG. 10. The rear wall 12 bcontains a plurality of openings 60 located at each lateral side. In thecenter of the wall 12 b there are a plurality of openings 61 which, whenthe drawer is closed, are adjacent to the opening 52 for the fan 50.Surrounding the plurality of openings 61 on the exterior (back) of rearwall 12 b is a seal 100. The seal 100 seals the air passage from theinterior of drawer 12 through openings 60 and circular opening 52 aroundthe fan 50, so that the air the fan 50 draws in comes from within drawer12 and does not come from the air surrounding the drawer 12 in theinterior compartment 18.

[0032] A temperature probe 102 is provided in the apparatus, such as inthe back wall 75 at plenum 58 (see FIG. 4) or elsewhere in the interiorcompartment 18, and is connected to a thermostat (not shown) forselectively controlling the temperature within the interior compartment18 and drawer 12 by a selection switch 76, as shown in FIG. 12. Anadditional insulation panel 17 is located on the side of the housing 14containing the selection switch 76. This insulation panel 17 is adjacentto insulation 16 and allows for the placement of the wires extendingbetween the selection switch 76, the thermostat, an electrical sourceand temperature probe 102. The selection switch 76 preferably has anOn/Off switch 77 and a temperature control switch 78 for setting thedrawer to the desired temperature. The selection switch also has anumber of available temperatures 79 to which the drawer can be set. Thetemperature is set by first turning the drawer on, using the on/offswitch 77. The user then presses the temperature control switch 78, toselect the desired temperature. By repeatedly pressing the temperaturecontrol switch 78, the temperature selection is cycled through theavailable temperatures 79, to which the drawer may be cooled. Thetemperature at which the interior compartment 18 is currently set to isindicated by the LED light being illuminated next to the selectedtemperature. Other controls, such as a timer (not shown) also may beprovided. Preferably, the selection switch 76 is located on the frontand on the side of the housing 14, such that the front 12 a of thedrawer 12 will cover the selection switch 76, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0033] A modification of the preferred embodiment is shown in FIGS.13-15. In this embodiment, a pair of “squirrel cage” blower units 120replace the pair of external air fan sets 62 a and 62 b. As shown inFIG. 14, each of the “squirrel cage” blower units contains a pair ofblowers 121 a and 121 b at the top and bottom, respectively. The blower121 a draws the external air through the front vents 87 and into the airpassage 80 at the top of the apparatus 10, represented by arrows 122. Asthe air reaches the blower 121 a, the air passes through the blower andis then directed downward towards the vertically extending fins 26 a,represented by arrow 123. The blower 121 a then blows the external airover the vertically extending fins 26 a, to cool the fins and warm theair. The blower 121 b draws the air from the vertically extending fins26 a and then redirects the air and blows it down air passage 68 todischarge at the front of the drawer 12 through vent 89. A modifiedblower arrangement is shown in FIG. 15 where the blower 121 a draws theair from the top-rear portion of the ducting, rather than the front asin FIG. 14, and discharges the air directly downward through the fins 26a.

[0034] Another modification of the preferred embodiment is representedin FIG. 16, wherein the external air passed through the fins 26 a of thethermoelectric modules 24 a and 24 b is drawn into and through the unitusing both fans and “squirrel cage” blowers. As shown, the fan set 130,similar to fan sets 62 a, 62 b, is placed adjacent to the verticallyextending fins 26 a and the “squirrel cage” blower 140 is placed at thebottom of the apparatus 10. The fan set 130 draws air from behind theapparatus through louvers 64 and from the front 12 a of the drawer 12through air passage 80. The air from the air passage 80 and the rear ofthe apparatus is mixed as it passes through the fan set 130. The fan set130 blows the air over and along the vertically extending fins 26 awhere the air is warmed by the heat from the fins 26 a. The blower 140then blows the external hot air that passed over the fins 26 a throughair passage 68 and out of the front of the drawer through vent 89.

[0035] In still another modification of the preferred embodiment, theapparatus is shown as comprising a pair of apparatus 10′ and 10″ in astacked installation in FIG. 17. In this embodiment, the apparatus 10′,10″ contain the “squirrel cage” blowers 121 a and 121 b as in theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 14. In the apparatus 10 on the top, the“squirrel cage” blowers 121 a and 121 b operate in the same manner as inthe FIG. 14 embodiment. The external air circulation is from thetop-front of the drawer through vents 87, through air passage 80, downthrough the fins 26 a, through the lower air passage 68 and out thebottom-front vent 89. In the apparatus 10″ on the bottom, the externalair intake is reversed, such that air intake is through the bottom-frontvent 89 and the warmer air is exhausted through top-front vent 87 of thedrawer. In this manner, the bottom apparatus 10″ will intake cool roomair rather than the warmer air that is exhausted from the top apparatus10′ through vent 89, thereby enhancing the cooling of fins 26 a with thecooler air from below the bottom apparatus 10″. Further, both apparatus10′, 10″ will exhaust the warmer air in the same location.

[0036] While the present invention has been described in connection witha specific preferred embodiment with various modifications of a kitchendrawer that may be either cooled or heated and a specific constructionof the heat exchange assemblage for accomplishing heating and cooling,it will really appear to those skilled in the art that various othermodifications and additions may be made for providing an apparatus for apurpose other than a kitchen drawer or with different components withoutdeparting from the invention as claimed below.

The claimed invention is:
 1. A controlled-temperature compartmentapparatus, comprising, a housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, apair of side walls and a back wall forming an interior compartment withan open front; a drawer mounted in said interior compartment of saidhousing and selectively movable into and out of said interiorcompartment through said open front, said drawer having a bottom, a pairof sides, a back and a front wall for closing said housing open front; aheat exchanger assembly mounted in said housing back wall and having atleast one thermoelectric module operable to transfer heat through saidback wall, said heat exchanger assembly including first and second heatexchange fins on opposite sides of said thermoelectric module, saidfirst heat exchange fins projecting inwardly toward said interiorcompartment and said second heat exchange fins projecting rearwardlyaway from said interior compartment, a first fan positioned adjacentsaid first heat exchange fins and operable to draw air from saidinterior compartment and circulate that air passed said first heatexchange fins and then back into said interior compartment, and a secondfan positioned adjacent said second heat exchange fins and operable todraw air from externally of said housing through a housing inlet andcirculate that air passed said second heat exchange fins and then backout to externally of said housing through a housing outlet; said drawerback being juxtaposed to said first fan in the closed condition of saiddrawer and said drawer back having outlet openings communicating withsaid first fan, a seal surrounding said outlet openings and an inlet tosaid first fan for sealing said drawer back to said first fan inlet anddrawing air directly from the interior of the drawer, and said drawerback also having inlet openings spaced from said outlet openings forallowing air circulated passed said first heat exchange fins to entersaid drawer; and said drawer sides being spaced from said housing sidewalls and having inlet openings adjacent said drawer front wall forallowing air circulated passed said first heat exchange fins to passfrom the housing back wall along the space between said drawer sides andsaid housing side walls and enter said drawer.
 2. The controlledtemperature compartment apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first fan iscentrally located laterally from side-to-side of said housing, a saidthermoelectric module is located on each lateral side of said first fan,and said first heat exchange fins extend laterally.
 3. The controlledtemperature compartment apparatus of claim 2, wherein a said second fanis positioned directly rearwardly of said second heat exchange fins ofeach thermoelectric module.
 4. The controlled temperature compartmentapparatus of claim 3, wherein said second heat exchange fins extend in asubstantially vertical direction.
 5. The controlled temperaturecompartment apparatus of claim 4, wherein said housing inlet for theexternal air is in the housing top wall and said housing outlet for theexternal air is in the housing bottom wall.
 6. The controlledtemperature compartment apparatus of claim 4, wherein said housing inletfor the external air is in the housing bottom wall and said housingoutlet for the external air is in the housing top wall.
 7. Thecontrolled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 1, wherein saidhousing back wall includes a panel which is adjacent said drawer back inthe closed condition of said drawer, said panel having a circularopening forming said inlet to said first fan.
 8. The controlledtemperature compartment apparatus of claim 7, wherein said housing backwall panel includes vertically extending openings on each lateral sidefor causing the internal air that has passed the first heat exchangefins to be discharged toward said inlet openings and sides of saiddrawer.
 9. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 8,wherein a temperature probe is positioned in said housing back walladjacent one of said vertically extending openings in said panel. 10.The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 8, whereinsaid housing back wall includes a molded insulation body with a cavityfor receiving said first fan and forming passageways for the internalair from said first fan passed said first heat exchange fins to saidvertically extending openings in said panel.
 11. The controlledtemperature compartment apparatus of claim 10, wherein said moldedinsulation body includes a through hole that surrounds saidthermoelectric module.
 12. The controlled temperature compartmentapparatus of claim 10, wherein said molded insulation body includes adrain below said first heat exchange fins for receiving and drainingcondensate formed on said first heat exchange fins.
 13. The controlledtemperature compartment apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first heatexchange fins extend laterally at a small downward angle to horizontalaway from said first fan for condensation occurring on said first heatexchange fins to migrate laterally away from said first fan, and a drainpassage is provided adjacent the lowest end of said first heat exchangefins for receiving the condensation, said drain passage extendingdownwardly and opening into said housing bottom wall for evaporating thecondensation.
 14. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein said housing top wall includes an inlet air passagefrom the front to the back of said housing for supplying external air tosaid second fan, and said housing bottom wall includes an outlet airpassage from the back to the front of said housing for exhausting theair circulated by said second fan passed said second heat exchange fins.15. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 1, whereinvacuum insulating panels are positioned within and extend throughoutsaid housing top wall, bottom wall and at least one side wall,insulation in said back wall surrounding said thermoelectric module andextending throughout the remainder of said back wall, and a vacuuminsulating panel is positioned within and extends throughout said drawerfront wall.
 16. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein said housing top wall includes an inlet air passagefrom the front to the back of said housing for supplying external air tosaid second fan, said housing bottom wall includes an outlet air passagefrom the back to the front of said housing for exhausting the aircirculated by said second fan passed said second heat exchange fins;vacuum insulating panels are positioned within and extend throughoutsaid housing top wall, bottom wall and at least one side wall, saidvacuum insulating panel in said top wall being below said inlet airpassage, and said vacuum insulating panel in said bottom wall beingabove said outlet air passage; and insulation in said back wallsurrounding said thermoelectric module and extending throughout theremainder of said back wall.
 17. The controlled temperature compartmentapparatus of claim 16, wherein a vacuum insulating panel is positionedwithin and extends throughout said drawer front wall, and a sealsurrounds said housing open front and is positioned between said housingand said drawer front wall.
 18. The controlled temperature compartmentapparatus of claim 1, wherein temperature controls are positioned on afront end of one of said housing side walls and operatively connected tosaid first and second fans and said thermoelectric module forselectively setting a temperature for said interior compartment.
 19. Thecontrolled temperature compartment apparatus of claim 18, wherein a sealsurrounds said housing open front and is positioned between said housingand said drawer front walls, said seal located laterally inwardly ofsaid temperature controls.
 20. The controlled temperature compartmentapparatus of claim 18, wherein a temperature probe is mounted in saidinterior compartment and is operatively connected to said temperaturecontrols.
 21. A controlled-temperature compartment apparatus,comprising, a housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, a pair of sidewalls and a back wall forming an interior compartment with an openfront; a drawer mounted in said interior compartment of said housing andselectively movable into and out of said interior compartment throughsaid open front, said drawer having a bottom, a pair of sides, a backand a front wall for closing said housing open front; a heat exchangerassembly mounted in said housing back wall and having at least onethermoelectric module operable to transfer heat through said housingback wall, said heat exchanger assembly including first and second heatexchange fins on opposite sides of said thermoelectric module, saidfirst heat exchange fins projecting inwardly toward said interiorcompartment and said second heat exchange fins projecting rearwardlyaway from said interior compartment, a first fan positioned adjacentsaid first heat exchange fins and operable to draw air from saidinterior compartment and circulate that air passed said first heatexchange fins and then back into said interior compartment, and a secondfan positioned adjacent said second heat exchange fins and operable todraw air from externally of said housing through a housing inlet andcirculate that air passed said second heat exchange fins and then backout to externally of said housing through a housing outlet; said drawerback being juxtaposed to said first fan in the closed condition of saiddrawer and said drawer back having outlet openings communicating withsaid first fan for drawing air directly from the interior of the drawer;at least one of said drawer back and pair of sides having inlet openingsspaced from said outlet openings in said drawer back for causing aircirculated passed said first heat exchange fins to enter said drawer;said housing top wall including an external air passage from the frontto the back of said housing for communicating with said second fan; saidhousing bottom wall including an external air passage from the back tothe front of said housing for communicating with said second fan; andsaid second fan circulating external air passed said second heatexchange fins through said external air passages.
 22. The controlledtemperature compartment apparatus of claim 21, wherein said external airpassage in said housing top wall provides an inlet passage from saidhousing inlet to said second fan.
 23. The controlled temperaturecompartment apparatus of claim 21, wherein said external air passage insaid housing top wall provides an outlet passage from said second fan tosaid housing outlet.
 24. The controlled temperature compartmentapparatus of claim 21, wherein said first fan is centrally locatedlaterally from side-to-side of said housing, a said thermoelectricmodule is located on each lateral side of said first fan, and said firstheat exchange fins extend laterally.
 25. The controlled temperaturecompartment apparatus of claim 24, wherein a said second fan ispositioned directly rearwardly of said second heat exchange fins of eachthermoelectric module.
 26. The controlled temperature compartmentapparatus of claim 25, wherein said second heat exchange fins extend ina substantially vertical direction.
 27. A controlled-temperaturecompartment apparatus, comprising, a housing having a top wall, a bottomwall, a pair of side walls and a back wall forming an interiorcompartment with an open front; a drawer mounted in said interiorcompartment of said housing and selectively movable into and out of saidinterior compartment through said open front, said drawer having abottom, a pair of sides, a back and a front wall for closing saidhousing open front; a heat exchanger assembly mounted in said housingback wall and having at least one thermoelectric module operable totransfer heat through said housing back wall, said heat exchangerassembly including first and second heat exchange fins on opposite sidesof said thermoelectric module, said first heat exchange fins projectinginwardly toward said interior compartment and said second heat exchangefins projecting rearwardly away from said interior compartment, a firstfan positioned adjacent said first heat exchange fins and operable todraw air from said interior compartment and circulate that air passedsaid first heat exchange fins and then back into said interiorcompartment, and a second fan positioned adjacent said second heatexchange fins and operable to draw air from externally of said housingthrough a housing inlet and circulate that air passed said second heatexchange fins and then back out to externally of said housing through ahousing outlet; said drawer back being juxtaposed to said first fan inthe closed condition of said drawer and having outlet openingscommunicating with said first fan for drawing air directly from theinterior of the drawer; at least one of said drawer back and pair ofsides having inlet openings spaced from said outlet openings in saiddrawer back for causing air circulated passed said first heat exchangefins to enter said drawer; said housing top wall including an externalair passage from the front to the back of said housing; said housingbottom wall including an external air passage from the back to the frontof said housing; said second fan circulation external air passed saidsecond heat exchange fins through said external air passages; vacuuminsulating panels positioned within and extending throughout saidhousing top wall, bottom wall and at least one side wall, said vacuuminsulating panel in said top wall being below said external air passage,and said vacuum insulating panel in said bottom wall being above saidexternal air passage; insulation in said back wall surrounding saidthermoelectric module and extending throughout the remainder of saidback wall; and a vacuum insulating panel positioned within and extendingthroughout said drawer front wall.
 28. The controlled temperaturecompartment apparatus of claim 27, wherein said first fan is centrallylocated laterally from side-to-side of said housing, a saidthermoelectric module is located on each lateral side of said first fan,and said first heat exchange fins extend laterally.
 29. The controlledtemperature compartment apparatus of claim 28, wherein a said second fanis positioned directly rearwardly of said second heat exchange fins ofeach thermoelectric module.
 30. The controlled temperature compartmentapparatus of claim 29, wherein said second heat exchange fins extend ina substantially vertical direction.
 31. A controlled-temperaturecompartment apparatus, comprising, a housing having a top wall, a bottomwall, a pair of side walls and a back wall forming an interiorcompartment with an open front; a drawer mounted in said interiorcompartment of said housing and selectively movable into and out of saidinterior compartment through said open front, said drawer having abottom, a pair of sides, a back and a front wall for closing saidhousing open front; a heat exchanger assembly mounted in said housingback wall and having at least one thermoelectric module operable totransfer heat through said housing back wall, said heat exchangerassembly including first and second heat exchange fins on opposite sidesof said thermoelectric module, said first heat exchange fins projectinginwardly toward said interior compartment and said second heat exchangefins projecting rearwardly away from said interior compartment, a firstfan positioned adjacent said first heat exchange fins and operable todraw air from said interior compartment and circulate that air passedsaid first heat exchange fins and then back into said interiorcompartment, and a second fan positioned adjacent said second heatexchange fins and operable to draw air from externally of said housingthrough a housing inlet and circulate that air passed said second heatexchange fins and then back out to externally of said housing through ahousing outlet; said drawer back being juxtaposed to said first fan inthe closed condition of said drawer and having outlet openingscommunicating with said first fan for drawing air directly from theinterior of the drawer; at least one of said drawer back and pair ofsides having inlet openings spaced from said outlet opening in saiddrawer back for causing air circulated passed said first heat exchangefins to enter said drawer; and said first heat exchange fins extendinglaterally at a small downward angle to horizontal away from said firstfan for condensation occurring on said first heat exchange fins tomigrate laterally away from said first fan, and a drain passage adjacentthe lowest end of said first heat exchange fins for receiving thecondensation, said drain passage extending downwardly through saidbottom wall of said housing.
 32. The controlled temperature compartmentapparatus of claim 31, wherein said housing top wall includes an inletair passage from the front to the back of said housing for supplyingexternal air from said housing inlet at the front of said housing tosaid second fan, and said housing bottom wall includes an outlet airpassage from the back to the front of said housing for exhausting theair circulated by said second fan passed said second heat exchange finsto said housing outlet at the front of said housing, said drain passageopening into said outlet air passage for the exhausting air to evaporatethe drained condensate.
 33. The controlled temperature compartmentapparatus of claim 31, wherein said drain passage includes a trap shapefor retaining condensate and thereby inhibiting the flow of air throughthe drain passage.
 34. A controlled-temperature compartment apparatus,comprising, a housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, a pair of sidewalls and a back wall forming an interior compartment with an openfront; a drawer mounted in said interior compartment of said housing andselectively movable into and out of said interior compartment throughsaid open front, said drawer having a bottom, a pair of sides, a backand a front wall for closing said housing open front; a heat exchangerassembly mounted in said housing back wall and having a pair oflaterally spaced thermoelectric modules operable to transfer heatthrough said housing back wall, each said thermoelectric module havingfirst and second heat exchange fins on opposite sides, said first heatexchange fins projecting inwardly toward said interior compartment andsaid second heat exchange fins projecting rearwardly away from saidinterior compartment, a first fan positioned between said pair ofthermoelectric modules and adjacent said first heat exchange fins, saidfirst fan operable to draw air from said interior compartment andcirculate that air laterally in both directions passed said first heatexchange fins of both said thermoelectric modules and then back intosaid interior compartment, and a pair of second fans with each saidsecond fan positioned adjacent one of said second heat exchange fins andoperable to draw air from externally of said housing through a housinginlet and circulate that air passed said second heat exchange fins andthen back out to externally of said housing through a housing outlet;said drawer back being juxtaposed to said first fan in the closedcondition of said drawer and said drawer back having outlet openingscommunicating with said first fan, a seal surrounding said outletopenings and an inlet to said first fan for sealing said drawer back tosaid first fan inlet and drawing air directly from the interior of thedrawer, and said drawer back also having inlet openings spaced from saidoutlet opening for causing air circulated passed said first heatexchange fins to enter said drawer; said drawer sides being spaced fromsaid housing side walls and having inlet openings adjacent said drawerfront wall for causing air circulated passed said first heat exchangefins to pass from the housing back wall through the space between saiddrawer sides and said housing side walls and enter said drawer; saidhousing top wall including an inlet air passage from the front to theback of said housing for supplying external air from said housing inletat the front of said housing to said second fans; said housing bottomwall including an outlet air passage from the back to the front of saidhousing for exhausting the air circulated by said second fans passedsaid second heat exchange fins to said housing outlet at the front ofsaid housing; vacuum insulating panels positioned within and extendingthroughout said housing top wall, bottom wall and at least one sidewall, said vacuum insulating panel in said top wall being below saidinlet air passage, and said vacuum insulating panel in said bottom wallbeing above said outlet air passage; insulation in said back wallsurrounding said pair of thermoelectric modules and extending throughoutthe remainder of said back wall; a vacuum insulating panel positionedwithin and extending throughout said drawer front wall; a sealsurrounding said housing open front and positioned between said housingand said drawer front wall; and each of said first heat exchange finsextending laterally at a small downward angle to horizontal away fromsaid first fan for condensation occurring on said first heat exchangefins to migrate laterally away from said first fan, and a drain passageadjacent the lowest end of each of said first heat exchange fins forreceiving the condensation, said drain passages extending downwardly andopening into said housing outlet air passage for evaporating thecondensation.
 35. The controlled temperature compartment apparatus ofclaim 34, wherein temperature controls are positioned on a front end ofone of said housing side walls and operatively connected to said firstand second fans and said thermoelectric modules for selectively settinga temperature for said interior compartment.
 36. The controlledtemperature compartment apparatus of claim 35, wherein a temperatureprobe is mounted in said interior compartment and is operativelyconnected to said temperature controls.